The AACR Annual Meeting 2026 featured a spectacular display of the progress that is being made against cancer due to your tremendous efforts. All of you—cancer researchers, clinicians, other health care professionals, survivors, and patient advocates—contributed your invaluable perspectives to a monumental demonstration of what science can achieve, especially when we work together.
We are immensely grateful to AACR Immediate Past President Lillian L. Siu, MD, FAACR, and Program Committee Chairs Paul S. Mischel, MD, FAACR, and Alice T. Shaw, MD, PhD, FAACR, for their ardent dedication in ensuring that this year’s program showcased the newest, brightest, and most pivotal developments across the continuum of cancer research. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to the program committee members, invited speakers, proffered abstract presenters, attendees, and AACR staff for their passion, ingenuity, and tireless efforts to advance our mission to prevent and cure all cancers. Together, these contributions culminated in an outstanding meeting that demonstrated why, year after year, the AACR Annual Meeting continues to be the cornerstone of the global cancer community.
The following highlights are a testament to the impact of the AACR Annual Meeting 2026:
- More than 23,000 registrants from 74 countries and territories participated in the meeting.
- A record number of nearly 250 clinical trials were presented with several practice-changing studies, and the clinical trials program included 11 completed phase III trials and six phase III Trials-in-Progress presentations.
- The diverse program featured more than 760 invited speakers from 24 countries. The speakers included 11 NextGen Stars, who were selected for podium presentations through a competitive application process.
- More than 270 scientific sessions were live streamed (including Plenary Sessions, Major Symposia, Advances Sessions, Educational Sessions, Methods Workshops, and proffered paper sessions).
- More than 190 reporters registered for the meeting, with media coverage appearing in high-profile outlets such as The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, NBC News, CNN, Fox News, STAT, and others.
- More than 6,300 people joined the AACR Annual Meeting conversation on the social media platform X, with over 22,000 mentions using the #AACR26 hashtag and generating 257 million impressions.
Thank you for attending the AACR Annual Meeting 2026. We look forward to welcoming you again next year for the AACR Annual Meeting 2027, April 2-7, in Orlando!
More from the AACR Annual Meeting 2026 »
View a photo gallery of scenes from San Diego, join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #AACR26, and read more coverage in AACR Annual Meeting News and on Cancer Research Catalyst, the official blog of the AACR.
